Five Pagoda Temple (Wutasi) is an Indish looking temple in the north of Beijing Zoo. It has been constructed in 1473. It is a very surprising building, looking very exotic in the middle of modern appartement-houses. It houses the Stone Carving Art Museum. The museum stores about 6000 stone sculptures of different dynasties.

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Five Pagoda Temple lies north of Beijing Zoo in the Haidian District of Beijing. Its original name was Zhenjue Temple and was changed to be Dazhengjue Temple in the Qing Dynasty (1644 A.D.-1911A.D.) . Five Pagoda Temple got its name as five pagodas were built inside the Temple.

This Temple was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368 A.D.-1644 A.D.). It was said that an accomplished Indian monk came to China at that time and presented to the emperor five figures of gold Buddhas and the draft of a Varja pagoda. They enjoyed conversing with each other, so much so that the emperor built this temple for the monk.

Also in the Ming Dynasty a Varja pagoda was built according to the monk's plans. The workers who built the pagoda did not follow the plans (drafts) accurately, so the size of the pagoda in India. But even so, the pagoda is rich in harmony.

A pair of feet is on the pagoda with the size of a man. This is called Buddhist Feet and is considered to be a kind of musical instrument used in a Buddhist ceremony. It is said that this pair of feet expresses Sakyamuni's will that the Buddhist scripture shall be preserved for centuries to come.

Here in the Temple, the tourists can enjoy a special architectural style, both of the Indian pagoda andChinese traditional ancient architecture. Also the tourists can enjoy the engraved features of Four Heavenly Kings, lions, Arhats, horses and other animal figures.

Near the pagoda are two tall maidenhair trees of the Ming Dynasty more than 500 years ago. With the trees, the Temple appears to be very solemn and respectful.

In the past the Temple was a good place for the residents of Beijing to climb and take a walk.

Now, the Five Pagoda Temple is the Beijing Museum of Stone Carvings which preserves more than 2000 pieces of work for the tourists to see.